HC Deb 21 October 1987 vol 120 cc810-1W
Sir Brandon Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures showing for 1975, 1980 and 1985 the numbers of lower paid single people with and without children, and of lower paid families with and without children, whose marginal tax rates including benefit withdrawal were (a) over 100 per cent. (b) 90–100 per cent., (c) 80–90 per cent., (d) 70–80 per cent., (e) 60–70 per cent., (f) 50–60 per cent., and (g) 40–50 per cent; and if he will compare these figures with the numbers likely to be similarly affected after implementation of the Social Security Act 1986 in April 1988.

1. Mr. Portillo

Information for 1975 and 1980 is not readily available and results for April 1988 will depend on rates of benefit, income tax and national insurance which have yet to be announced. The available information for November 1985, which cannot readily be disaggregated into single people and married couples, is as follows:

Working families with children
Marginal tax rate (per cent.) Numbers (000)
Over 50 below 60 140
Over 60 below 70 100
Over 70 below 80
Over 80 below 90 110
Over 90 below 100 60
100 and over 70
Total over 50 per cent. 480

Working families without children
Marginal tax rate (per cent.) Numbers (000)
Over 50 below 60 90
Over 60 below 70 60
Over 70 below 80
Over 80 below 90 50
Over 90 below 100
100 and over
Total 50 per cent, and over 200

Notes:

Sources:

(a) Working families with children: 1983, 1984, 1985 Family Expenditure Surveys.

(b) Working families without children: 1985 Family Expenditure Survey.

2. November 1985 benefit rates have been assumed throughout.

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